What are the elements of disaster preparedness and mitigation?
One of the key aspects in disaster mitigation is to take into account all aspects of a disaster – and not just human relief and rehabilitation. Economic, social and environmental impacts need to be anticipated and appropriate measures taken. The entire disaster cycle of prevention, preparedness, assessment, mitigation and response should be part of any disaster mitigation plans. Prevention and preparedness need to be the cornerstone of any emergency plan. Anticipating the level of damage with geographical information systems, simulation software, early warning etc. are also critical elements of a good disaster preparedness and mitigation plan. This has to be integrated with a post-disaster assessment, which can be used to draw lessons for preparedness and mitigation. • What should disaster mitigation plans aim for? Initiatives dealing with disasters need to examine and assess disasters, as well as circumstances underlying their occurrence. It should cover various laws and regulations,
